Adidas Predator Absolute

If the words "Adidas Predator" conjure up images of an expensive football boot first designed over a decade ago by Aussie Liverpudlian Craig Johnston - covered, as they were, by protruding and unsightly rubber blocks which made your shots, passes and hoofs fly off at all directions - you'll be a little surprised by the finesse of the new Absolute boot.

If, however, those same words bring to mind the recent Pulse boots, you'll probably perceive just one or two minor tweaks to what are already commonly regarded as the best in the business.

The Predator Absolutes were designed for David Beckham, a marketing guarantee that they'll sell well. Adidas claim they're "the lightest and most powerful Predator boot ever", though, strangely, these two feats cannot be achieved simultaneously.

Confused? The explanation lies in the latest new technology - the exchangeable PowerPulse. The boots come with two inner soles: one is firmer, with a weighty gold bar at the front which fits into an air socket (think Nike Air trainers) in the bottom of the boot itself; the other is more flimsy, with a far lighter feel to it and without the bar. The former is designed thus to allow "more powerful shots on goal" by shifting the boot's centre of gravity closer to the impact, while the latter tries to provide more fleet-footedness.

Whether there is that much difference between the two, however, is open to debate. With the soft sole, the boot does indeed weigh on the foot fractionally less, but the PowerPulse sole seems to have little effect on the force of striking the ball. This is where it becomes difficult to separate one expensive pair of football boots from another - the Predators are designed for Beckham, not your average Sunday league player, and perhaps you have to be a top-class professional to appreciate such intricate detail.

The Predator's favoured technology for aiding swerving and shooting is still present - the low-profile (liquid) rubber elements on the top and side of the boot, or, as Adidas puts it, "along five metatarsals". Which five, it doesn't say. The design is much the same as for the recent Pulse boots, though the craftsmanship is better, with the rubber more resistant and less likely to fall apart.

The boot also has a noticeably flatter profile than former Predators, which aids ball control. This is achieved through much shorter laces - so short it is tricky to tie a double-knot - hidden under the tongue which itself is held down by (more jargon) "asymmetrical loop lacing"; in other words, a lace which wraps itself around the boot.

Another departure from the old lies with the new clip-in stud system - or "exchangeable traxion" - whereby you can change with little hassle from blades to, well, longer blades, depending on the type of ground you're playing on. This, of course, saves the expenditure of having to buy two different pairs of boots to suit the conditions.

The boots' best feature, though, is their comfort. A "glove-like" fit is promised, and a glove-like fit you receive. The boots are made with kangaroo leather, and while, like me, you may not know too much about this particular brand of leather, rest assured that it's very thin, very malleable and, thus far, has proved to be very durable. This is offset by a sturdy two-density layer around the Achilles tendon to provide stability and comfort on the most vulnerable part of the foot.

The Adidas Predator has long been the market leader in football boots, and their latest pair certainly doesn't let them down. It may not be markedly different to recent offerings, but there are enough minor refinements to show the company are still working hard to stay ahead of the competition. The retail price is steep at £130 (though shop around as they can be found for nearer £90), and you probably need to be playing at a reasonably high level to really feel the benefits of the so-called technology; but if you have cash to burn, want the most comfortable and trendy boots around, and, ultimately, want to impress your mates, these are the ones for you.

A word of warning though: don't be foolhardy and buy the hideous white and gold version - you're almost certainly not good enough to wear them so that really would be like burning your cash.